The ASUS ROG Phone 9 FE is a lower-priced version of the ROG Phone 9 gaming phone. It first went on sale in Thailand in February 2025, then reached Malaysia and the Philippines in March 2025. In Thailand, it launched at 29,990 baht with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. ASUS has not sold it in the US or Europe. In January 2026, ASUS said it would not add new phone models, while support for existing phones continues.
Design and display
The FE keeps the look of the ROG Phone 9 series, with an AniMe Vision mini-LED panel on the back. The screen is a 6.78-inch Samsung AMOLED with a 2400 x 1080 resolution and LTPO refresh from 1 Hz. It runs at up to 165 Hz in settings and 185 Hz in Game Genie, with 2,500 nits of peak brightness. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covers the display. The phone measures 8.9 mm thick, weighs 225 grams and has an IP68 rating. It comes only in Phantom Black.
Performance
The main difference from the ROG Phone 9 is the chip. The FE uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 from 2024 instead of the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Its top CPU core runs at 3.3 GHz. The Thai model has 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, while the versions in Malaysia and the Philippines have 12GB. Storage is 256GB of UFS 4.0, and there is no microSD slot. AirTrigger touch zones still work as shoulder buttons in games.
Cameras
The rear setup has three cameras. The main one uses a 50 MP Sony IMX890 sensor with a 1/1.56-inch size, an f/1.9 lens and gimbal OIS. It is joined by a 13 MP ultrawide camera and a 5 MP macro camera. The main camera records video at up to 8K and 24 fps. The front camera uses a 32 MP RGBW sensor and records 1080p video at 30 fps.
Battery and charging
The battery is smaller than in the ROG Phone 9, at 5,500 mAh instead of 5,800 mAh. It supports 65 W wired charging, and a 65 W adapter comes in the box. Qi wireless charging is also supported. The phone keeps a 3.5 mm headphone jack and stereo speakers.
Software and updates
The ROG Phone 9 FE runs Android 15 with ROG UI out of the box. ASUS has not published a separate update promise for this model.
Should you buy the ROG Phone 9 FE?
The ROG Phone 9 FE suits gamers in Southeast Asia who want the ROG design, shoulder triggers and a 185 Hz mode for less money. It keeps the headphone jack, IP68 rating and fast charging. However, it uses an older chip and a smaller battery than the ROG Phone 9. It is also hard to buy outside its launch markets.
